EFCC detains ex-Adamawa governor, set for trial

The Economic and Financial other Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained ex-Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri.

The action follows Fintiriâ€™s impending arraignment in court on Thursday for alleged bribery and corruption arising from contracts worth about N2.9billion.

The ex-governor will face trial before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

According to a top source in EFCC, Fintiri was taken into custody yesterday ahead of his movement to court today.

The source said the ex-governor has been served a copy of the charges against him.

â€œAll is set for the trial of Fintiri on Thursday and we have detained him in preparation for his transfer to the court.

â€œHe is facing trial for alleged bribery and corruption from some contracts when he was the acting governor of the state.

â€œThe corruption-related charges might have to do with abuse of office too.â€

Although the source did not give details, it was learnt that the EFCC operatives were able to establish that as a public officer(Speaker of the House of Assembly), Fintiri on November 13, 2014 allegedly registered a firm,Â Â Mayim Construction and Properties Limited with his residence, LQ 12, Malamare GRA Quarters, Jimeta, Yola-North, Adamawa state as the address.

The firmâ€™s incorporation number was quoted last night as RC 695885 with the following directors: Hamidu A Umaru, Ismaila Ahmadu, Umaru Ahmadu and Faiza A. Umaru.

It was gathered that the EFCC succeeded in establishing that three of his children are among the said directors.

But the ex-governor ran into trouble over award of two road contracts including a N1billion work for Yola township road and another N1.9billion for road project in Mararaba Garta, which was ravaged by Boko Haram.

The top source said: â€œThe two projects were awarded to Roycon Limited. Although there was evidence of the execution of Yola road project, the contracting firm could not move to Mararaba Garta because of Boko Haram insurgency.

â€œBut from records available, Roycon Limited was given a mobilization fee of N200million. But the said N200million was later traced to Mayim Construction and Properties Limited which is allegedly owned by Fintiri.

â€œAbout $3.8million from the contract sum was alleged to have been paid to Fintiri who used it to purchase a property in Taraba State.â€